"The New Era Begins.. 7/23 #MC723," she tweeted to her 11 million followers.

She previously wrote: "Recording last note for today right now!! started at 9pm last night - pretty standard really."

It comes days after Mariah announced she would not be returning to be a judge on American Idol, where she appeared alongside Nicki Minaj, Keith Urban and Randy Jackson, so she can focus on her new record and upcoming world tour.

The 43-year-old mother-of-two heated up the Hot 97 Summer Jam XX in New Jersey on July 2, when she appeared on stage in a pair of white cut-off shorts, knotted white shirt - showing off her taut stomach - and sunglasses to sing #Beautiful with Miguel.

The as-yet-untitled new album comes three years after her Christmas album Merry Christmas II You in 2010, and four years after 2009's Memoirs Of An Imperfect Angel.

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